Ethnic and Gender Disparities in Healthy Ageing among People 50 Years and Older in South Africa

Abstract

Objective: this study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of healthy ageing in older adults living in the community in South Africa. Methods: the cross-sectional sample consisted of 3734 individuals (≥50 years) from the cross-sectional South African National Health and Nutrition Survey (SANHANES-1) in 2011–2012. Healthy ageing was assessed using a multidimensional concept, which includes five components: (1) absence of major illness, (2) absence of disability, (3) good mental health, (4) social engagement and (5) well-being or good health. Results: in general, 36.6% had a healthy ageing, including 73.3% had no major diseases, 87.1% were free of disability, 62.3% had good mental health, 73.0% were socially engaged and 64.0% had a high well-being. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, male sex (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 1.33, 95% confidence interval-CI: 1.03–1.72), white population group (AOR: 3.46, 95% CI: 2.29–5.22) and coloured population group (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.34–2.47), were positively associated with healthy ageing, while increasing age (AOR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97), daily tobacco use (AOR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.42–0.74), perceived underweight (AOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34–0.66) and perceived overweight (AOR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34–0.81) were negatively associated with associated with healthy ageing. Conclusion: almost two in five older adults in South Africa were successfully ageing. Factors associated with healthy ageing included, younger age, male sex, population group (Whites, Coloureds), not daily tobacco users, not having underweight and overweight.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Successful Ageing among People 50 Years and Older in a National Community Sample in Thailand

“…Using a multidimensional concept of SA, we found that almost two in three older adults (≥50 years) (60.0%) in Thailand were successfully ageing; the figures were slightly lower for those ≥60 years (58.1%) and ≥65 years (56.3%). Thailand appears to have a prevalence of SA that is higher than in China ( N = 15,191; ≥65 years, 18.6%), Korea ( N = 4155; ≥65 years, 25.2%) [ 4 ], India ( N = 21,343; ≥65 years, 27.2%) [ 5 ], and South Africa ( N = 3734; ≥50 years, 36.6%) [ 6 ]. The SA component “no major illness” (≥50 years 92.3%; ≥65 years 90.0%) in this study was higher than in China (≥65 years, 75.1% [ 4 ], India (≥65 years; 83.3%) [ 5 ], and South Africa (≥50 years; 73.3%) [ 6 ].…”

“…Thailand appears to have a prevalence of SA that is higher than in China ( N = 15,191; ≥65 years, 18.6%), Korea ( N = 4155; ≥65 years, 25.2%) [ 4 ], India ( N = 21,343; ≥65 years, 27.2%) [ 5 ], and South Africa ( N = 3734; ≥50 years, 36.6%) [ 6 ]. The SA component “no major illness” (≥50 years 92.3%; ≥65 years 90.0%) in this study was higher than in China (≥65 years, 75.1% [ 4 ], India (≥65 years; 83.3%) [ 5 ], and South Africa (≥50 years; 73.3%) [ 6 ]. Similarly, the prevalence of the SA component “without disability” in Thailand was higher than in China, Korea, India, and South Africa.…”

“…Successful ageing (SA) can be defined using a multidimensional concept, including life satisfaction, mental well-being, social engagement, no disability, and no major illness [ 4 ]. Using the same definition of SA, in China (≥65 years), the prevalence of SA was 18.6%, in Korea, it was 25.2% [ 4 ], in India (≥65 years), it was 27.2% [ 5 ], and in South Africa (≥50 years), it was 36.6% [ 6 ]. As reviewed previously [ 5 , 6 ], indicators associated with SA comprise sociodemographic indicators (married, male sex, younger age, higher economic status, higher education, ethnicity, and region) and health behaviors, such as physical activity, not smoking, and normal body mass index.…”

“…Using the same definition of SA, in China (≥65 years), the prevalence of SA was 18.6%, in Korea, it was 25.2% [ 4 ], in India (≥65 years), it was 27.2% [ 5 ], and in South Africa (≥50 years), it was 36.6% [ 6 ]. As reviewed previously [ 5 , 6 ], indicators associated with SA comprise sociodemographic indicators (married, male sex, younger age, higher economic status, higher education, ethnicity, and region) and health behaviors, such as physical activity, not smoking, and normal body mass index. Furthermore, diet quality [ 7 ] and intellectual and developmental disabilities [ 8 ] can influence successful ageing.…”

Healthy ageing in a multi-ethnic population: a descriptive analysis from the HELIUS study

“…Ethnic differences have been documented in ageing and comorbidities relating to mental health, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and mortality, disadvantaging migrants compared to the host populations in Europe (Kristiansen, Razum et al 2016, Markides andRote 2018). Studies have also shown that these health disparities vary by sex, gender, and socioeconomic status with ageing (Sialino, Schaap et al 2019, Muilwijk, Callender et al 2021, Pengpid and Peltzer 2021, Sialino, van Oostrom et al 2021, Stephens, Szabó et al 2022). However, most healthy ageing research has explored ethnic differences in populations aged 50 years or over (Stuart 2010, Sachdev, Lipnicki et al 2013, Asamane, Greig et al 2020, Pengpid and Peltzer 2021, Peterson, George et al 2021, Hernandez Saucedo, Whitmer et al 2022, Meza, Peterson et al 2022, Stephens, Szabó et al 2022).…”